The Lead Off

• A judge has scheduled a June 18 hearing in Indiana’s lawsuit seeking to shut down an alleged unlicensed daycare in Goshen.
• State officials are requesting a permanent injunction after inspectors found 86 children at the home.
• Investigators say 66 children were found in a basement area with no fire escape.

GOSHEN, IND. (WOWO) Indiana officials will return to court later this month as they pursue a permanent injunction against an alleged unlicensed daycare operation in Elkhart County following a large-scale enforcement action that found dozens of children inside a residential property.

A judge has set a hearing for Thursday, June 18, where state attorneys are expected to argue for the shutdown of the operation according to WNDU.

The complaint names two women accused of operating an unlicensed childcare home along County Road 42. Officials say neither woman has been criminally charged or arrested at this time.

State inspection and enforcement action

According to state officials, inspectors and sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at the residence last Monday after prior compliance concerns were reported.

During that visit, authorities say they found 86 children inside the home.

Investigators reported that 66 of those children were located in a basement area that did not have a fire escape.

Officials also said investigators had made multiple prior visits to the property, including issuing a cease and desist letter in April following complaints.

Legal action and next steps

The state’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to halt operations at the residence, which officials say is functioning as an unlicensed childcare facility.

The upcoming June 18 hearing will determine whether the court grants temporary or permanent relief while the case proceeds.

State officials have not announced any additional enforcement actions beyond the civil lawsuit, and the investigation remains ongoing.